Hours after Indian Army Chief General Bipin Rawat warned soldiers against posting their grievances on social media, a video of a Sikh soldier singing about the tough conditions they face has surfaced.
"It has been 10 months now, I am not getting days off; all the tears have fallen from her eyes. One who is married to us, she feels neither married nor unmarried," the soldier reportedly sings in the video, where he is seen standing in front of his colleagues near what appears to be a makeshift army canteen.
In the video, the soldier compares how he and his colleagues eat "pickle on roti" while others eat meals at fancy hotels, The Hindu reported. The soldier's song also compares their situation to that of politicians who go to sleep while soldiers remain on duty at all times, even during festivals. He alleges politicians don't care "two hoots" about soldiers.
Army chief General Rawat had said on Sunday, "If any jawan has any grievance, he has been provided with the proper forum to resolve his issue and maintain a balance. If you are not satisfied with the action, then you can contact me directly."
He had warned soldiers that, "Aapne jo karwai ki hai aap iske liye apradhjanak hain, aur saza ke haqdaar ho sakte hain (You are violating rules by your act and you could be punished for that)."
While it is still unclear when the latest video was recorded, it does not follow the pattern of earlier videos of soldiers complaining about their abysmal conditions. This video was recorded by another person, likely a soldier, in what appears to be a private performance. It is also unclear how old the video is, and where it was taken.
Watch the video below: